Cardboard box



1950 M. GOLDSHOLL 2,964,227

CARDBOARD BOX Filed Jan. 23, 1958 INVENTOR.

. a; J4 J gzara GbaZzh/J MM vw CARDBOARD BOX Morton 'Goldsholl, 201 N.Wells, Chicago, Ill.

Filed Jan. 23, 1958, Ser. No. 710,641

3 Claims. (Cl. 229-21) This invention relates to a new and useful box orcarton made of cardboard or the like, and blanks therefor which areadapted readily to be set up and converted to finished form for thepackaging of various items.

This application is a continuation-in-part of application Serial No.619,795, filed November 1, 1956, now abandoned, on a folding box, andapplication Serial No. 644,755, filed March 8, 1957, now abandoned, on afolding box. Both of these applications disclose a cardboard box havinga very unusual and attractive shape and construction, the box having apair of main, outwardly-bowed, side walls meeting at acute angles inopposite straight edges, and one or more inwardly-bowed closure endwalls bridging the spaced margins of the outwardly-bowed main sidewalls. In application Serial No. 644,755, the inwardly-bowed end Wallseach comprises a pair of overlapping closure flaps joining the main sidewalls along respective inwardly-bowed fold lines extending to theadjacent corners of the box. The rigidity of the cardboard material outof which the box was made enables the closure flaps to maintain theirinwardlybowed shape until pulled back to open the box.

One aspect thereof of the present invention relates to an improvement inthe box constructions disclosed in said application Serial No. 644,755in that the improved box has greater rigidity although made from thesame cardboard material. Other aspects of the present invention,however, have application to other types of boxes, although they areespecially useful with boxes of the type just described.

In the preferred form of the present invention, a cardboard blank isprovided having two main, substantially identical panels separated by astraight fold line which enables the two panels to be superimposed. Eachof the panels preferably has an outer straight side opposite andextending generally parallel to said straight fold line, and either oneor both of the other sides of the panels have outwardly-bowed contours.Opposite each of the outwardly-bowed edges of the panels is a similarlyshaped, but oppositely or inwardly-bowed fold line which definestherewith a convex-concave closure flap-forming area. This much of theblank forms a box of the type shown in said application Serial No.644,755.

In accordance with the present invention, one of the main panels of theblank is provided with a tongue extending from the above-mentioned outerstraight side thereof. The tongue has a pair of spaced parallel foldlines extending generally parallel to said straight side of the mainpanel, the fold lines defining three adjacent sub-panels. The innermostand outermost of these subpanels have a width in the neighborhood ofone-half the width of each of said main panels of the carton blank andthe intermediate sub-panel has a width approximately equal to thespacing desired between the mid points of the main outwardly-bowed mainpanels of the side walls of the box, which is the'distance between thewidest nited States atet points of the bowed margins of theconvex-concave clo sure flaps.

The box is formed by folding the above-mentioned tongue along the spacedfold lines thereof to provide a generally Z-shaped structure which isextended between the main panels when folded along said straight foldline at the adjacent perimeters thereof. The two panels are securedtogether by cementing together the innermost edge of the innermostsub-panel of said tongue along the inside surface of the main panel fromwhich the tongue does not extend. The box is completed by foldinginwardly the adjacent convex-concavo blank areas which will snap into aninwardly-bowed shape to form overlapping convex-concavo flaps whichforce the main panels apart unto outwardly-bowed shapes. Then the tongueis in proper position to increase the rigidity of the box. The innermostsub-panel of the tongue then extends gen erally along one-half the widthof one of the main panels of the box, with the intermediate sub-panelthereof extending transversely between the medial portions of the mainpanels of the box. The outermost sub-panel of the tongue extends alongone-half the width of the other main panel of the box.

One advantage of the tongue construction described above is that theintermediate sub-panel thereof, which extends transversely between thecentral regions of the outwardly-bowed panels, braces the panels againstinward fiexure to provide a relatively rigid box structure fromrelatively thin cardboard stock. Since the entire box including saidtongue is made of a single sheet of relatively inexpensive cardboardmaterial, all of the abovementioned advantages are obtained with aminimum of expense.

Other advantages and features of the present invention will becomeapparent upon making reference to the specification to follow, theclaims and the drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred form of the presentinvention;

Fig. 2 is a view of the box in Fig. 1 in a collapsed condition forshipping or storage purposes;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a cardboard blank from which the box of Figs. 1and 2 is constructed;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view through the box, taken alongsection line 44 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a transverse section through the box, taken along section line55 in Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of one of the closure flaps inan opened position.

The carton blank shown in Fig. 3 is most advantageously made of asingle, die-cut piece of semi-rigid, relatively thin cardboard material.The blank has two adjacent complementary main panels 10 and 12 connectedtogether along adjacent sides of their perimeters. A straight fold line14 is formed at the juncture of the panels 10 and 12 by scoring thecardboard. Panel 10 has outwardly-bowed or convex outer edges 16-46 andthe panel 12 has similar outwardly-bowed or convex outer edges 18-18,the innermost ends of adjacent edges 16 18 intersecting at the ends ofthe fold line 14. The panel 12 has a straight outer edge or side 20which extends parallel to the fold line 14 and joins the associatedconvex edges 18-18 at corners 21-21, and the panel 10 has a straightouter side or margin defined by a fold line 22 which is parallel to foldline 14 and is formed by scoring the cardboard blank. The fold line 22joins] the associated convex edges 1616 at corners 2323. When the panel12 is folded along the fold line 14, the

straight outer edge 20 of the panel 12 will fall along the fold line 22of panel 10, and the convex edges 18--18 thereof will fall along convexedges 16-46 of panel 10.

Patented Dec. 13, 1960 I Opposite the convex edges 16-16, the panel hasinwardly or concave bowed fold lines 28-28 whose 1nner ends respectivelymeet at the ends of the fold line 14 and whose outer ends meet at thecorners 23-23 of the panel 1%. The other panel 12 of the blank isprovided with inwardly-bowed or concave fold lines -39 WhQSc inner endsintersect the ends of the straight fold line. 14 and Whose outer endsintersect the corners 21-21 of the panel 12. The inwardly-bowed foldlines 28-28 and 30-39 are formed by scoring the cardboard blank, and areof the same approximate size and shape as are the outwardly-bowed orconvex edges 16-16 and 18-18 of the blank. The panel sections outside ofthe inwardlybowed fold lines thus form similar convex-concavg,closure-flap forming areas identified respectively by reference numerals32-32 and 34-34. If desired, one of the closure-forming areas 341 may beprovided with a finger-receiving notch 35 formed in the convex edge 1%thereof.

In accordance with the present invention, the cardboard blank isprovided with a generally rectangular tongue 38 extending from thestraight side 22 of one of the panels 10. The juncture of the tongue 38and the panel 10 is defined by a fold line running along the straightside 22 of the panel 19. The inner end of the tongue 33 has outwardlyinclined marginal portions which extend substantially tangentially tothe convex edges 16-16 of the panel 10 and join the latter at theirpoints of intersection with the inwardly-bowed fold lines 28-28. Thetongue 38 has a pair of spaced, straight fold lines 40-42 formed byscoring of the cardboard blank, which fold lines extend parallel to thefold line 22 at the juncture between the tongue and the panel 10. Thefold lines 40-42 divide the tongue into three adjacent subpanels orlegs, namely an innermost sub-panel or leg 44, an intermediate sub-panelor leg 46 and an outermost sub-panel or leg 43. The innermost andoutermost sub-panels 44 and 4S both have a width in the neighborhood ofone-half the Width of either the main panel 19 or 12. The intermediatesub-panel 46 has a width approximately equal to the maximum width of theconvexconcavo closure-flap forming area 32 or 34. The innermostsub-panel is provided with a narrow strip 50 of adhesive material bymeans of which the panel 12 may be fixed in superimposed relationshipover the panel 10 in a manner to be explained.

To fabricate the box from the blank, the tongue 38 is first folded alongthe fold lines 40 and 42 to form a generally Z-shapcd structure with theinnermost panel 4-4 extending generally along the adjacent half of theassociated main panel 10 or 12 of the blank. The tongue is folded alongthe fold line 22 at the juncture between the tongue 38 and the panel 11so that the adhesive strip 50 is exposed. Then the other panel 12 isfolded along the straight fold line 14 to bring the straight edge 20thereof over the straight side 22 of the panel 10. As shown most clearlyin Fig. 5, with the panels 10 and 12 superimposed in this manner, theadhesive strip 50 on the innermost sub-panel 44 of the tongue .38 is inposition to adhesively engage with the inside of the panel 12 adjacentthe straight edge 21 thereof. The resultant partially fabricated boxthen has the flat shape shown in Fig. 2. Large numbers of suchpartially-fabricated filat blanks may be compactly stacked for storageor shipment.

To complete the fabrication of the box, the convexconcavo flap formingportions 34-34 of the panel 12 are folded inwardly in the mannerillustrated in Fig. 6, the rigidity of the cardboard material causingeach of them to snap into a concave or inwardly bowed shape followingthe outlines of the associated inwardly-bowed fold line 30. The outeredges of the flaps 34-34 engage the inner surface of the panel 10 and,in so doing, expand both panels 143 and 12 into the outwardly-bowedshapeillustrated. The other flap-forming portions 32-32 are then folded overthe flaps 34-44, the resultant fiaps also snapping into theinwardly-bowed shape following the inwardly-bowed fold lines 28-28. Theresultant box thus has a pair of outwardly-bowed main side Walls 10-12meeting on opposite straight edges 14-20 and raving inwardly-bowed endclosure walls.

With the box in this fully assembled condition, the Z-shaped foldedtongue 38 between the main panels or walls 10 and 12 of the box occupythe position shown in Fig. 5, with the innermost and outermost panels 44and 48 extending generally along the different respective halves of thebox walls 10 and 12 and the intermediate sub-panel 46 extendinggenerally transversely of the medial portions of the outwardly-bowedwalls 10 and 12- to brace the latter walls against inward flexure.

The present invention has thus provided a very attractive folding boxhaving appreciable rigidity despite the fact that the box is made of asingle piece of relatively thin, inexpensive cardboard or cardboard-likematerial.

It should be understood that numerous modifications may be made of thepreferred form of the invention above described without deviating fromthe broader aspects of the invention.

What I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent of theUnited States is:

1. A carton blank comprising a single sheet of semirigid material havingadjacent, substantially identical, complementary main panels adapted toform opposite walls of the box and hinged together along a straight foldline formed in the blank, said main panels having similarly sized andshaped and correspondingly located inwardly-bowed fold lines extendinggenerally transversely of said straight fold line and running fromcorresponding corners of said main panels and meeting at the adjacentend of said straight fold line between said main panels, at least one ofsaid panels having an outer edge opposite the associated inwardly-bowedfold line which edge bows outwardly approximately the same amount as thelatter inwardly-bowed fold line bows inwardly to form therewith aconvex-concave closure flap-forming area, said main panels each furtherhaving a straight outer side which extends generally parallel to saidstraight fold line, and one of said main panels having a tongueextending from said straight outer side thereof, said tongue having apair of spaced straight fold lines extending parallel to the latterstraight outer side and forming three contiguous subpanels, theinnermost and outermost of which having widths in the neighborhood ofone half the width of each of said panels, the intermediate sub-panelhaving a width equal to the desired spacing of the centers of said mainpanels, said blank forming a box structure when said tongue is foldedinwardly along said fold lines thereof and is inserted between said mainpanels which are folded along said straight fold line at the adjacentperimeters thereof and the of the tongue is secured along the straightouts" side of the panel from which it does not extend and, further, whensaid convex-concave closure flap-forming area is folded inwardly, toform self-locking, overlapping, inwardly-bowed flaps.

2. A box comprising a folded blank made of a single sheet of semi-rigidmaterial having at least two panels joined together at their sides toform a box having at least two opposite box side walls forming pointedbox sides, said blank having a tongue extending from one of said panelswhich tongue is folded into a generally 2- shaped structure having aninnermost, an intermediate and an outermost leg, said innermost andoutermost legs of said tongue extending generally along different respective halves of said opposite box side walls, and said intermediate legextending generally transversely of and between the medial portions ofsaid opposite box side walls to lend rigidity to the box.

3. Abox made from a one-piece carton blank of semirigid material, saidbox comprising opposite outwardlybowed side walls meeting in oppositestraight side edges,

one of said outwardly-bowed side walls having a tongue located withinthe box and extending therefrom along the adjacent straight edge of thebox, said tongue being folded into a generally Z-shaped structure, theintermediate leg thereof extending generally transversely between medialportions of said outwardly-bowed side walls to lend rigidity thereto,the outermost leg thereof extending to a point adjacent the oppositestraight edge of the box, and a closure for at least one end of said boxcomprising a pair of closure flaps extending respectively from saidoutwardly-bowed side walls along inwardly-bowed hingeforming fold linesin the carton material which fold lines extend to the corners of theadjacent side edges of the box, said closure flaps when folded inwardlyalong said inwardly-bowed fold lines snapping shut into aninwardly-bowed shape by virtue of the rigidity of the carton material.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re.23,670 Currivan June 23, 1953 359,435 Elliott Mar. 15, 1887 1,404,193Dietsche Ian. 24, 1922 1,603,809 Seacord Oct. 19, 1926 1,706,300 KakaleyMar. 19, 1929 2,569,018 Priester Sept. 25, 1951 2,607,524 Gerson Aug.19, 1952 2,804,258 Petter Aug. 27, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 768,763 GreatBritain Feb. 20, 1957

